Keeping the car clean and organized can be a large chore. A clean car can also be difficult to maintain. This is especially the case when you have kids or car pool with multiple families.
There are some hacks and tricks that will help you along the way. Some will help you to stay organized in a rush. Others will help to leave the car clean for minimal clean up after each ride.
Here are 17 car cleaning and organization hacks you will love.
Cup Cake Liners
It can be an intricate task to clean out the cup holders in your car. They are deep and can be too narrow for hands to fit.
Avoid battling with those stray coins in the cup holder by lining them with cup cake liners. The liners will catch and collect all the random items that fall into your cup holder.
They can also be used to store keys and other small items you’ll use while in commute. Mix and match or color code your cup holder storage.
Shoe Organizer
Create an organized back seat by using a shoe organizer. Place one on the back of the front seat in the car. Use it for storing snacks, toys, accessories or even shoes.
This will do great to keep your back seat in tact during trips. For road trips and long journeys a shoe organizer will store snacks for the kids or different activities to keep the occupied throughout the journey.
If you are an executive, you can use it to hold shoes to change between meetings.
Plastic Bag in Tissue Box
You can reuse your tissue box to store plastic bags. These will come in handy to hold trash if you’re not near a bin.
These will come in handy for eating lunch or snacking in the car. Plastic bags can also be used to collect diapers or kid snacks at the end of a trip.
The tissue box will allow you to have an aesthetically pleasing storage area. This way, you won’t have to stuff plastic bags in random areas of the car.
Dryer Sheets to Clean Rims
Rims and hub caps often get dirty and cloudy. Keep a box of dryer sheets handy to keep them shiny. If you run out of cleaner, you can simply reach for a dryer sheet to clean your rims.
You can also take these with you on the road for long trips. If you’re going to take on rugged terrain, it will come in handy retaking the highway.
This is for the days when your car needs a wash and you have no time. Fake a fresh cleaning by wiping your rims down with dryer sheets.
Toothpaste to Clean Headlights
On the topic of cleaning quickly, toothpaste will make short work of dirty headlights. On occasion, your headlights will get cloudy and this may cause the light to become diffused and appear dull.
Make your headlights sparkle again by using toothpaste to clean it. Take a small amount of toothpaste on a moist rag or sponge.
Rub the headlight in circular motion until the toothpaste is lathered. Rinse it clean and watch your headlight sparkle before your eyes.
Laundry Basket in the Trunk
For those hefty trips to the supermarket, keep a laundry basket in your trunk. Once you take your bag to the car, pack the laundry basket.
This will keep your trunk organized and keep the groceries in place. This laundry basket will also help you to transport your groceries from the car to the house.
Once you get home, just lift the laundry basket from the trunk and take it inside. In just one trip, you have all your groceries. Just take it back to the car when you’re done.
Clean Vents with a Foam Craft Brush
Dirty vents can be a pain to have, they can literally make you sick. Dust build-up will blow all over the car and clog your nostrils.
Keep a foam craft brush handy to clean quickly. Just slide it into the space between each pane and wipe it clean. You can also use it with your favorite cleaning solution to freshen the car.
Another way to use the foam brush is to add car freshener and wipe. This will lift all the dust and leave your car smelling fresh.
DIY Travel Mug
If you’re in a rush or don’t have a travel mug, you can make one easily. You will need a mug, cling wrap and a straw.
Just pour the coffee or tea into the mug. Then wrap the top with the cling wrap and poke it with the straw. Finally, insert the straw and enjoy your beverage.
This will allow you to enjoy your morning coffee on the go with no spills. You can also turn your favorite mug into a travel mug and keep it with you.
DIY Upholstery Cleaner
For potential stains and sticky messes, you can keep this DIY in the back of the car. Firstly you can make it with 1/4 cup of baking soda, 1 cup of warm water and 1 teaspoon of Murphy’s Oil Soap.
Just mix this together in a spray bottle until all the ingredients dissolve. Spray a small amount of this onto the stain or area you wish to clean. Scrub it lightly with a toothbrush and wipe it clean with fresh water.
Cereal Container Trash Can
This one is for those who have kids and struggle to keep the car clean. Keep a cereal container on the axel box for holding trash. This will keep the trash in one place and off the back seat.
You can simply empty it at the end of a trip and put it back. You can also make it a game for the kids. See who will fill the car bin faster. This is a fun and easy way to teach them to stay tidy. It will also give you less to do when cleaning the car.
Cover the Backseat
For transporting pets or just messy kids, cover the backseat. The backseat can receive and hold on to a lot of silent spills. Covering the backseat can go a long way in easy cleaning.
It will also allow you to change the look of your back seat frequently. You can choose the best material for your lifestyle.
Then it’s as easy as wiping it clean or removing for washing. Backseat covers will also catch pet hair for easy clean up. No more stray pet hairs in corners of the car.
Paper Organizer
Keep a paper organizer or folder in the glove compartment. This can hold important documents such as car registration and insurance papers. It will come in handy in the event that you get pulled over.
Just pull it out for quick documentation. Some organizers will store paper which will come in handy on the road. Keep paper in your organizer for taking insurance information in the case of an accident.
Razor Blade to Remove Stickers
When it becomes time to remove last years stickers from your car, use a razor blade. Save yourself the mess by using a razor blade to lift stickers completely.
If lifted with bare hands, stickers may tear or leave residue that can be difficult to remove. Just angle the blade at an edge and lift it gently.
Then hold the lifted area taut with your hands. Use the blade to lift the sticker. Hold the lifted area closer to the blade as you lift more of the sticker.
Cooking Spray on Bug Splatters
In your daily commute, you may get bug splatters or bird droppings. By the time you see most of these on the car, they’re already dried.
Remove them with minimal scrubbing with cooking spray. Just spray the area and let it soak in for a few minutes. Then with a soapy sponge or wash cloth, rub the splatter away.
Then you can disinfect the area to ensure that all the germs are gone. Another option is to use oil soap to clean the area once and for all.
Get a Box
Get a box to hold all your car tools. Keep it in your trunk to stay organized. When you need your jumper cables, car jacks, spare tires or even a wrench, reach into your box.
You can keep everything you need for emergencies on the road. This will come in handy and efficient to help yourself or others. This will also keep your car accessories separated from your groceries or other items you need to store in your trunk.
Castile Soap Car Wash
Instead of going to the car wash, clean your car at home. At the car wash, they use harmful chemicals that damage the paint job and the environment.
Keep your car fresh for longer and help the environment by using Castile soap to wash. This is made from plant oils that are safe for the environment and gentle on your hands.
Just mix it with some water, lather up your car and rinse. This has a fresh clean feel that you will love.
This article is about 17 great ways you can help to keep your car clean and reduce the amount of time that you spend cleaning your car if its a mess.Car Cleaning And Organization Hacks
Instructions
Cup Cake Liners
Shoe Organizer
Plastic Bag in Tissue Box
Dryer Sheets to Clean Rims
Toothpaste to Clean Headlights
Laundry Basket in the Trunk
Clean Vents with a Foam Craft Brush
DIY Travel Mug
DIY Upholstery Cleaner
Cereal Container Trash Can
Cover the Backseat
Paper Organizer
Razor Blade to Remove Stickers
Cooking Spray on Bug Splatters
Get a Box
Castile Soap Car Wash
These hacks are practical and can be beefed up to add flair to your car. Choose a decorative version of any box, laundry basket or cereal container. You can stay stylish while making your life easy. Try any or all of these for your next trip out or refer these to a friend.
